Thales Leites (13-1-0) 6’1”/185 lbs., fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, is a fighter who made his bones as a professional on the tough Brazilian fight circuit. The 26-year old Leites’ stellar grappling pedigree was in evidence as he built an impressive 9-0 record. In his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann in November of 2006, Leites faced defeat for the first time in his three year career, losing a three round decision in a hard-fought contest. Leites rebounded at UFC 69, as he decisioned tough Pete Sell, and then took out Floyd Sword at The Ultimate Fighter® 5 Finale. After two more wins over Ryan Jensen and former world title challenger Nate Marquardt, Leites now looks to take out Zadar, Croatia’s Goran Reljic (8-0). Twenty-four year old Reljic (6’3”/185 lbs.) has been called a “Natural Born Fighter;” someone for whom competing in mixed martial arts wasn’t a choice, but a necessity. It’s a tag that was placed on him almost immediately when he started training in MMA in 2003. Five years later he made good on his potential when he upset light heavyweight contender Wilson Gouveia in the second round, earning Reljic “Fight of The Night” honors. Now, Reljic may have more surprises in store as he drops down to the middleweight division to take on Brazilian contender Leites.

Junior “Cigano” dos Santos (6-1) 6’3”/234 lbs., fighting out of Salvador, Brazil, is a promising newcomer to the UFC with the type of talent that has made fight insiders sit up and take notice. Dos Santos is not only fighting for his first UFC victory, but to keep highly-touted contender Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum from a shot at his teammate, UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. “Cigano,” winner of six of his seven pro bouts, with all of his wins ending in the first round, looks to start on his own journey to the top. Fighting out of Porto Alegre, Brazil, Werdum (11-3-1) 6’4”/231 lbs., came over from Japan’s PRIDE organization looking for glory and a world championship in the UFC. He first made his name in mixed martial arts with his stellar jiu-jitsu and ground attack. After TKO wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera, opponents have something new to worry about with “Vai Cavalo’s” punching power. Werdum is now closing in on his goal for a title shot, but it may be fellow Brazilian dos Santos, who derails his dream by scoring an upset.

Tyson Griffin (12-1) 5’6”/155lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. has been nearly perfect in his UFC stint, going 5-1 since making his Octagon™ debut in 2006. Among his victims are Clay Guida, Thiago Tavares, Gleison Tibau, and Marcus Aurelio. In Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk, Griffin will be pushed to the limit by one of the rare fighters who can match him in strength and wrestling ability. At 35 years old, Sherk (36-3-1) 5’6”/155 lbs., and with over 40 fights and nine years in the pro game, there’s little that he hasn’t figured out when it comes to professional fighting. Sherk is a pro’s pro, a stellar wrestler who, through fight experience and hard work, became a true mixed martial artist. One thing had always eluded him; a world championship. In 2006 Sherk’s dream finally became a reality when he scored a unanimous decision over Kenny Florian to win the UFC Lightweight Championship. Now, two years later, “The Muscle Shark” is back in the hunt for the belt. It will be a clash between two of the lightweight division’s most physically intimidating forces. In this crossroads match, the winner may ultimately be determined by who can break the other’s will first.

Gray “The Bully” Maynard (6-0) 5’8”/155 lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas, is a standout from season five of The Ultimate Fighter. Once just known for his world-class wrestling and amazing strength, Gray Maynard revealed another facet of his improving mixed martial arts game in September of 2007 when he knocked out tough Joe Veres in just nine seconds. It wasn’t until his wins over seasoned vet Dennis Siver and then-unbeaten Frankie Edgar that fight fans saw a maturing fighter who will be in the title picture sooner rather than later. Now undefeated, this former NCAA Division I All-American from Michigan State seems to be getting better with each fight, a scary prospect for his opponent, Rich “No Love” Clementi (40-12-1). He will be put to the test by his seasoned competitor, and a win could just be the ticket to the big time for “The Bully.” Written off by many after a 2007 loss to Roan Carneiro, nine-year MMA vet Clementi (5’8”/155 lbs) roared back into title contention with a six fight winning streak that saw him derail the upward mobility of a host of young guns including Anthony Johnson, Melvin Guillard, Sam Stout, and Terry Etim. Slidell, Louisiana’s “No Love” looks to make Maynard lucky number seven in an intriguing lightweight showdown.

Shannon Gugerty (11-2) 5’10”/155 lbs., fighting out of San Diego, Calif., provided fight fans with a first-round submission victory against Dale Hartt in his UFC debut. Gugerty is a student of grappling experts and fellow UFC fighters Dean Lister and Brandon Vera and is looking for his ninth consecutive mixed martial arts win when he takes on Spencer “The King” Fisher (22-4) 5-7/155 lbs. Fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa, Fisher has fought nine times in the UFC and has compiled six wins, including victories over Jeremy Stephens, Sam Stout and the dangerous Thiago Alves. The 32-year-old Cashiers, North Carolina native has won two out of his last three fights and is a perpetual contender in the lightweight division.

Matt “Suave” Horwich (22-10-1) 6’1”/185 lbs., fighting out of Gresham, Ore., is a submission machine. The five-year MMA veteran has earned 18 of his 22 wins by submission, and has victories over UFC veterans Jason MacDonald, Josh Burkman, Benji Radach and Vernon White. The 30-year-old will make his Octagon debut when he faces Dan Miller (9-1, 1 NC) 6’1”/185 lbs. Fighting out of Whippany, N.J., Miller needed just 1:27 to submit Rob Kimmons in his UFC debut at September’s UFC® Fight Night™. The New Jersey native looks to climb the middleweight ladder as his brother, Jim, makes his UFC debut a week before at UFC 89 in Birmingham, England.

Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio (16-6) 5’10”/155 lbs., fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., has UFC wins against Luke Caudillo and Ryan Roberts, but most recently lost a tough decision against Tyson Griffin at UFC 86 in July. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is pitted in a huge grudge match against his former student Hermes Franca (19-7) 5’6”/155 lbs. Fighting out of Jupiter, Fla., Franca looks to rebound from consecutive losses against Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar when he takes on his former teacher. Franca holds victories over Fisher, Nate Diaz and Jamie Varner, and looks to get back on track in a match-up between two decorated world-class grapplers.

Pete “Drago” Sell (7-4) 5’11”/170 lbs., fighting out of Westbury, N.Y., is a UFC veteran that will fight for the first time in the Octagon as a welterweight after four straight UFC losses at middleweight. Sell’s sole UFC win came in 2005 against fellow New Yorker Phil Baroni. The Long Island product and student of former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra is looking for a comeback at the lower weight class when he tangles with Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (20-6) 5’10”/170 lbs. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah and former football player at Dixie State College, Burkman looks to rebound from two straight losses to Mike Swick and Dustin Hazelett and return to the form that saw him earn five career UFC victories.

For further information on UFC 89, UFC 90, and UFC 91, please visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Chad Mendes continues to train hard in Sacramento, motivated by the magnitude of the upcoming event. His opponent Conor McGregor does the same in Las Vegas, capping his day with a big-city display of fireworks.

06/07/2015

Chad Mendes trades the gym for a pool to test his endurance. Conor McGregor enjoys a poolside massage and adds a few unexpected weapons to his arsenal. Plus, Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald do some final prep at home.

05/07/2015

Headliner Conor McGregor heads to Los Angeles for an appearance on Conan. In Sacramento, Chad Mendes discovers that his phone number has been published. Back in Vegas, McGregor gets in some training, and Mendes watches his foe’s late-night appearance.